Nov. 7, 2017
04:20 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
04:20 pm JST

what does the sk gov't hope to achieve with this stunt? previous j gov'ts have aknowledged and apologized for what happened. and last year both gov'ts signed an agreement to compensate and end all claims from the comfort women. but the current administration wants to renege on the deal and wants more compensation. what more does the sk gov't want? this isn't the right venue to bring up these claims. what do they expect trump to do?

Nov. 7, 2017
04:32 pm JST

But the agreement reached in 2015 does not include restrictions on the "comfort women"! They're free to attend and talk about their sufferings wherever they might like! Even to presidents. I think Japan ought to respect that. Even though if Moon invited her, she chose for herself as an individual person.

What if USA called for a final and irreversible agreement regarding the Hibakushas? I surely think Japan would've been angered by that. The same way, South Korea is angered with Japan's government position on this issue. Constantly denying and downgrading the fact each year! Of course South Korea is angered by this, it's common sense to be angered about a sensitive issue that "someone"-(Japanese government) wants to erase!

You can't just say that; "The Nanking-massacre never happened, it never happened". "Japan never exploited Korean and Chinese women". LDP of Japan, would you think it was OK if USA suddenly said that Hiroshima and Nagasaki never happened? That's the issue about the comfort women and others!

Nov. 7, 2017
04:34 pm JST

Unbelievable, SK just couldn't resist. Their entire culture and identity is basically this these days, it's astonishingly pathetic. They also seem to be suspiciously trying to divert attention away from NK, which isn't winning them many points and sympathy when conflict inevitably breaks out and Seoul is in danger

Nov. 7, 2017
05:05 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
05:06 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
05:23 pm JST

To all those outraged .

Why is it no problem for Trump to be seen with the NK abductee families in Tokyo , a media appearance designed to help Abe,s domestic image but not OK to meet with the former comfort woman , an appearance that will help SK,s Moon domestic image?

Hypocracy much? Japan is not the only one with injustices in its past.

Nov. 7, 2017
05:38 pm JST

They are not talked about in the US because Korean and Chinese comfort women (i.e., sex slaves) that were brought to Japan during the war were made to service US military after the war. So this could be embarrassing to Trump as well.

Nov. 7, 2017
05:53 pm JST

Japan has apologised and will pay 1bn yen ($8.3m, £5.6m) - the amount South Korea asked for - to fund victims.

While I get it was a major problem and war is never good for anyone, this deal was done, signed and paid for in 2015 (for the second time), stop playing the victim Korea. Japan paid exactly what you asked for to settle the matter yet it continues.

Nov. 7, 2017
06:05 pm JST

It continues because South Korea constantly has to remind LDP about the atrocities Japan committed during WW2. As long as LDP denies and actively tries to "erase" these dark memories, the more pressure Japan will get from China/Korea etc.

Even if you've payed for your crimes, you can't begin deny them right away! Shall we all just forget about; Hiroshima, Nagasaki, The Holocaust, Nanking-massacre etc for instance? And instead move forward as Abe has told us? If you don't preserve these memories of a dark past, there's nothing to stop us from repeating them! Come on, Japan! Stop denying, and face the truth and recover, as honest (Makoto) Yamato-people!

Nov. 7, 2017
06:20 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
06:25 pm JST

It continues because South Korea constantly has to remind LDP about the atrocities Japan committed during WW2. As long as LDP denies and actively tries to "erase" these dark memories, the more pressure Japan will get from China/Korea etc.

Shhhhhhhhh. No logic or common sense allowed here. Only emotion fueled tirades. Thanks.

Nov. 7, 2017
06:27 pm JST

It's a pity that some people in SK feel the need to do this, and it's a pity that the atmosphere is such that these people are actually allowed to do it.

If Trump was invited to a special meeting with some comfort women (and not their handlers) that would be fine, much as he met with relatives of the disappeared in Japan. (Actually he could meet with a lot of those in SK too, as they have suffered even worse than Japan with such kidnappings.)

Nov. 7, 2017
06:30 pm JST

Why is it no problem for Trump to be seen with the NK abductee families in Tokyo , a media appearance designed to help Abe,s domestic image but not OK to meet with the former comfort woman , an appearance that will help SK,s Moon domestic image?

Good post. Politicians do this - it's part of the game.

People tend to call it out from politicians they don't like or politicians from countries they don't like.

Nov. 7, 2017
07:24 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
07:38 pm JST

I have a history book at home, in which it stands Dokdo as the name of Takeshima known in Japan. It counters LDP's claim that history books support Japan's claim, they do not! Even when it comes to the "Sea of Japan"-name dispute, it stands in this book; Southern and Northern Korea sea, and then Sea of Japan outside the Syngman-Rhee line. (This book is from 1964)

The UN states that any Sea that borders between 2 country should be named in accordance with a consesus reached by both parties. South Korea has always offered to hold talks on this matter, but Japan persistently continues to call it "Sea of Japan" thereby bypassing a UN convention!

Nov. 7, 2017
07:43 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
08:14 pm JST

If they try to thrust the USA into the middle of this ridiculous conflict, hopefully Trump will have the sense to say, "Sorry, not going to get involved." but I have a feeling he'll say something stupid.

Nov. 7, 2017
08:28 pm JST

Anything the Japanese do, the Koreans can match!

Why is it no problem for Trump to be seen with the NK abductee families in Tokyo , a media appearance designed to help Abe,s domestic image but not OK to meet with the former comfort woman , an appearance that will help SK,s Moon domestic image?

Exactly. Sorry to say this, but those kidnapped are most likely no longer around. As long as Japan tries to brush these sex slaves and this nasty bit of history under carpet, there will always be those who will try and make sure history is never forgotten.

Nov. 7, 2017
08:40 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
08:57 pm JST

"Japanese government officials are puzzled over South Korea's decision to raise such thorny political issues during Trump's event at a time when ties between Tokyo and Seoul have been improving."

Why not bring it up and make the world aware of the suffering many people are forced to face in war? Japan seems to have no problem showcasing victims of other countries wrong-doing, like kidnapping. North Korea probably objected to that, but should we therefore object as well?

Nov. 7, 2017
09:08 pm JST

My experience with dealing with Japanese people (generally speaking) is that they are quick to insist on an apology to them when they feel that something has been done to aggrieve them, but they are not so quick to apologise to others when they have been aggrieved.

This is why I think that this issue of comfort women will never really go away.

Nov. 7, 2017
09:10 pm JST

North Korea provided an accounting of all the existing abductees they had records of, and an apology of sorts. The survivors were able to return to Japan. Maybe not completely satisfactory, but is was an effort and North Korea arguably has grounds for saying the issue is closed. Yet Japan still harps on the issue. Abductees' families are still alive. And some Korean comfort women are still alive...

Nov. 7, 2017
09:55 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
10:04 pm JST

Nov. 7, 2017
10:17 pm JST

The argument whether these “comfort woman” deliberately chose prostitution to make a living or were forced by the Japanese army to do so still continues, but the Japanese government admitted their wrong and has made an official apology & have been paying compensation to both the Korean government and these women. The Korean government accepted the apology and the two countries agreed to move on. I find it hard to understand why Korea has brought this up again at this timing. Perhaps something political is going on here…

Nov. 7, 2017
10:25 pm JST

Japanese need to understand the comfort women agreement of 2015 is dead, and the ROK is back to a full scale diplomatic war with Japan. Japan needs to prepare to fight a diplomatic war on history accordingly.

As to what's wrong with Japan's apology, Japan has made apologies of moral responsibilities; that Japan didn't kidnap comfort women at gunpoint by the order of the Imperial Japanese Military's high command, but it was the activity of private pimps and the Japanese military only provided medical check-up on installations around Japan's military bases, etc.

However, it has been proven beyond reasonable doubt with the UNESCO comfort women document collection that the Imperial Japanese military ordered the forced recruitment of comfort women, and this is why Japan is desperately trying to prevent the listing of UNESCO comfort women documents because such listing would establish at the UN level beyond reasonable doubt that Japanese state was responsible for the crimes of the forced conscription of comfort women.

Nov. 7, 2017
10:57 pm JST

Atrocities... during war... all sides have and will probably do it regardless of laws and agreements... that is war... a fight for survival and the powerful abusing the weak...

As many stated here, time passes and changes occur... with the passage of time... all living beings including plants and animals change... man has the ability to use experience and knowledge to become wise... time for all to become wiser and adjust to change and take such actions that "improve" and not destruct...

To become wise... it takes a person who "appreciates" the ability to change and also to make changes from experiencing both the good and the bad... and that ability and right to choose.., to do that.., a person must appreciate "life" and what it has yet to offer when one shares that appreciation... with responsibility and accountability...

Sad that there are many that are yet incapable of appreciating life... and what it is to be alive...

Japan has changed and adjusted... time for N and S Korea to do something similar...

Nov. 8, 2017
12:21 am JST

Nov. 8, 2017
12:28 am JST

thepersoniamnow: "Whats your point man?"

The point is you should not forget history. I feel that US presidents SHOULD visit Hiroshima, in the spirit of reconciliation -- the exception being Trump because he would say something stupid -- and likewise we should not forget the abductees, nor should we forget sexual slavery or any other atrocities that happened in WWII or otherwise.

Why am I not surprised you demand people forget? Probably have some relatives who have fought in wars you remember hearing about. You tell people to shut up about them, too?

kazetsukai: "To become wise... it takes a person who "appreciates" the ability to change and also to make changes from experiencing both the good and the bad... and that ability and right to choose.., to do that.., a person must appreciate "life" and what it has yet to offer when one shares that appreciation... with responsibility and accountability..."

Bang on. Time for Japan to be accountable.

"Japan has changed and adjusted..."

No they haven't. They still deny committing atrocities and many, including posters on here, call the sex slaves "well paid prostitutes, and a propaganda issue". And nothing WILL change until the "wisdom" you speak of, and ability to HONESTLY change, come into play. Change isn't just crying victim whenever something bad happens to Japan, and asking those criticizing to be quiet in case A, but never forget case B (ex. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tokyo firebombing, etc.). You've got it the other way around. Time for Japan to grow up. If South Korea wants to bring this up while Trump is there, as Japan brought up the abductees, so be it.

Nov. 8, 2017
12:32 am JST

Ex_Res: "My experience with dealing with Japanese people (generally speaking) is that they are quick to insist on an apology to them when they feel that something has been done to aggrieve them, but they are not so quick to apologise to others when they have been aggrieved.

This is why I think that this issue of comfort women will never really go away."

Bingo! Look at how desperately Japan is demanding the UN not list sex slave documents as Cultural World Heritage items, even to the point out extorting and blackmailing them (while still kindly asking everything in Japan be listed).

Nov. 8, 2017
02:27 am JST

Sanut Basu

Of course this is a critical timing. What situation do you think SK is in at the moment ? They have so many issues to talk with both the US and Japan before thinking of how to harass Japan.

And never forget that there are tremendous number of South Koreans who were kidnapped by North Korea, about 3,800 people have been abducted (the vast majority in the late 1970s), 480 of whom are still being held. Why are they pretending to forget about this? And why are they blaming Japan for appealing their abduction victims?

Nov. 8, 2017
02:28 am JST

Nov. 8, 2017
03:50 am JST

South Korea showing itself off as the immature joke of a country that it is. Not the time or place to drag out a Chong Dae Hyup coached "Comfort Woman". And for God's sakes not in front of the guy who thinks it ok to grab women by the you know what.

MocheakeNov. 7 07:01 pm JSTJapan plays the same card all the time. The hibakusha and abductees issues always get near top billing so why shouldn't SK do the same?

Big difference. Both the hibakusha and abductees are well documented. In contrast US documentation of the Comfort Women supports Japan's view that they were "military prostitutes". Not South Korea's fake narrative based on a fake newspaper article.

Nov. 8, 2017
04:30 am JST

Please, SK, now is not the time to bring up the Comfort Women issue and feeding Donnie Dokdo shrimp. You all have to reign in the North. Besides, what makes you think the Orange One would empathize with Comfort Women when he, himself have violated so many women?

Nov. 8, 2017
07:02 am JST

Nov. 8, 2017
09:01 am JST

Ex_ResNov. 7 09:08 pm JST My experience with dealing with Japanese people (generally speaking) is that they are quick to insist on an apology to them when they feel that something has been done to aggrieve them, but they are not so quick to apologise to others when they have been aggrieved.

This is why I think that this issue of comfort women will never really go away.

I think you have zero experience. Japan as a nation and certainly most J-people harbor no ill feelings towards us Americans who carried out indiscriminate aerial bombing of all major cities deliberately targeting civilians, topping it off with the arguably unneeded two A-bombs dropped on a nation on the brink of complete collapse. Japan has NEVER asked the US for an apology. In fact PM Abe apologized to the United States before Congress. In contrast, SKorea's fixation on the Comfort Women is a hoax perpetrated on the world based on a fake newspaper article. US documentation both during and after WWII show that it was a military prostitution system like the ones run by other countries.

Nov. 8, 2017
12:21 pm JST

Where do we get the notion that apologizing once is sufficient? That might be the case as you shout back to someone "I already said I'm sorry" but it's clearly inadequate in bi-lateral relations.

The number of times one apologizes really depends on the number of times it takes to reach true reconciliation. The benefits of a bona fide rapproachement for Japan and South Korea is well worth a thousand apologies.

Nov. 10, 2017
02:52 am JST

Yumster100

Yes, you are right. Not only Prof. Park Yu-ha, they blamed Prof. Lee Young-hoon of Seoul University and resorted to violence, for his argument that the number of comfort women and forced laborers is exaggerated in Korea's textbooks and challenges the Korean's common beliefs: "Japanese colonial rule and development has been considered an absolute evil."

Nov. 11, 2017
02:55 am JST

There is no solid evidence with this comfort women in history anyways. This can be voluntary recruits not slavery. Yet, the JP gvt apologized and paid tons of million dollars to SK to end this discussions. Now, SK is still saying that they didn't make that agreement? Japan's apology was not good enough? Then return the money first!! Nobody should trust SK. They just want to make money from this victim business. Very sad, SK!!